HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03-two-stage: Harnessing the power of local actors in conserving, restoring and managing nature

The objective of the project is to develop replicable and versatile methods to empower local landscape actors (from residents and businessowners, to landowners and farmers) across multiple EU Member States, to (re)connect them to the landscape and environment they live and operate in, and to unlock the power of citizen action to conserve and restore nature. Through capacity building, elucidating and defining potential incentives and governance structures, landscape actors get agency in how 'their' landscape is shaped. A key aspect to consider is that the landscapes should support both societal and natural needs in an equitable, balanced and (climate) resilient way. Ineed, nature is in decline and it is increasingly resulting in a reduced resilience to climatic events, making awareness and knowledge on how functioning wild or natural areas have wide reaching benefits.

Natuurpunt, as a grassroots organisation that is both supported by volunteers and strategically managed by volunteers, has identified and implements a formula that works well in the BE-Flemish context since for decades. Local identity and agency of each area Natuurpunt is active in, and the local nature reserves managed by Natuurpunt, is key to the prosperity and functioning of local groups and the restoration and management of local nature reserves. However, cultural, logistical, politcal and economical differences between and within EU Member States demand a flexible approach to ensure the strength of citizen action for nature conservation and restoration can be unlocked across the EU Member States.

By cooperating with an international consortium of knowledge partners with expertise in community/citizen incentive and mobilisation research, nature organisations with diverse but effective community/citizen-based operations, and associated regions/organisations that aim to establish or expand their community/citizen based activities, we can develop the necessary tools and methods to unlock the potential of communities and citizens in conserving and restoring nature and functioning landscapes.

We are looking both for interested partners and a coordinating partner.